Alaska's First Bush Pilots, 1923-30. Jim Rearden

Detroiter cabin biplane, Noel flew Dr. J. A. Sutherland of Fairbanks to check it out and administer vaccine at various villages, including Ruby, Russian Mission, Marshall, Mountain Village, Kaltag, Unalakleet, and Nome. On his return to Fairbanks in early January, waiting for him Noel found the Hamilton Metalplane, ordered months earlier. The Wiens were in good company with that modern airplane; Northwest Airlines had ordered eight of the new Hamiltons for their passenger service.

      The December 28, 1928, News-Miner’s announcement of the airplane’s arrival read, “The task of assembling the giant Hamilton monoplane of Wien Airways which arrived in pieces on the freight train yesterday will take five days or so say mechanics for the company.”

      The News-Miner’s detailed report continued enthusiastically: “The most striking features of the craft are its size and luxury. The fine quality of its fittings and its suggestion of comfort make apt the name of ‘air yacht.’ Nothing that might make for the ease of the passenger has been overlooked.

       Wien Alaska Airways purchased the Hamilton Metalplane NC10002 (right) in late 1928 after flying the Stinson Detroiter C5262 (left) between Nome and Fairbanks for two years. Both planes were in Fairbanks in the summer of 1929 for this photo.